Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-09
THE PANHANDLE.
/ L tier from Hon. j. \, Browning TO
Governor Ross On Tie Ls3d Policy
OF The Stala-IgnoraEco Of the
State Agents.
3nyy ihs Fuiuro Prospects Of ,larthwest
Tcxss arc Threatened by the Lease sys-
tenn and False Classification.

MoBEETIE, Ten, Aug. 3.-Represeuta-
i've j. n. Browning addressed today the
following letter to Governor Ross:
Governor L. S. Ross, Austin, Tex.
Dear Sir: Being citizen OF Texas and
iesiroas of seeing is material resources
developed to their utmost capacity st TIE
earliest practicable moment, thus making
It what God aud nature has destined It
should be-the Empire State OF the Union
y hope that you will not consider It I'M
pertinent in me to call your attention to
g matter CT state policy Of momentoug
Importance 10 the people of the Pan
handle. From the earliest settlement Of
this part Of the state there has been some
sort OF indefinite land policy which has
ever impeded rather than advanced the
settlement, progress and development
of the Panhandle. For sevoral years
before your election to the governor
ship it seemed that the ears of
the legislative and executive powers Of
the state were deaf 10 our entreaties for
= reasonable state policy, disposiUg Of
the school lands in & manner to enc0ur-
age settlers to COme into the country.
In your nomination and election to the
Office Of chief executive Of the stgte the
anxiety of the people for time ceased
because Of their great oItlcuce IN your
wisdom, integrity and love Cf cur COM
mon country. They vel remembered
your Sulphur Springs speech on May S,
1856, in which you made use Of the fol
loving language: az Is no longer
question that good policy requires thGt
these lands shall be so distributed IS 10
secure the greatest possible number OF
GCtGal settlers. Any legislation kat viii
produce this result should be adhered to.
Every law now in force or hereafter to be
enacted should be submitted to this teat;
Will it promote settlement? This has
Sssasshe settled policy Of the state since
It's 8nreXation. It is founded in 81 en-
lightenad public policy, rendered nece3-
sary by the enterprise Of our citizens We
should build TIE interests Of oar state 20
last, and not become impatient Gt the
slow but steady operation cf wise laws
Tact contributed so lsTgoly in times past
t6 dts growth and greatness. The true
paEcy IS TO bring these lands into market
asSd by all legitimate means dispose Of
them as speedily % possible 70 those who
have been Induced to settle in this new
section. The interests OF the state and
the school fund alike demand it. The
strongest political and economical CON
sideraJi0ns dictate this course"
: Further on l. the same spztch, in fol
loUirg up the same though, you wisely
said: "fhese lands would yield in sn in
SApendelt class Of small freehold
'ers-tne pride snd glory Ct 8
country, o9 well as its
BtreDgth - retuT0s in the wealth
created by the extension Of civilization
saf in the enlargement Of the domain OF
law and Order-returns in the utilization
by such as will use them in opening up
the highways OF travel, and By scouting
private Independence add to the general
prosperity"
These utteranCes, coming as they did
from you whom the people loved and de-
lighted in hOnoring, were 8 sufficient
guaranty OF your intention to see that a
policy was adopted and executed locking
to this end. This same principle you en-
phasizod in your inaugural address az
follows: "The ownership OF land is nor
only an element Of great political power,
but no class OF people can make any very
dt)IItGl2Ulc dtN AllSC IL Civ Il4LSllOu WILL
out its possession. There is but little to
produce patriotism or pride OF country in
q people VINO are slI tenants st wi!l-the
soil they tend belonging TO Others, and Of
which they may be deprived OF al plea
sure, end even their labor worthless with
out the patronage Of the strong. Govern
ment should, therefore, feel Itself CON-
stantly bound TO administer its public
lands with sedulous care in order that
the greatest number OF its people may Sc
cure homes 81 g nominal cost with secur-
ity title. = < The celebrated Ed
mund Burke, in recommending that the
forest lands OF the British crown should
be brought into market and converted in
to private property at q moderate price,
laid down the following just and profound
maxims of political economy; The prin-
Cipal revenue which l propose TO
draw from these unCultivated wastes is to
spring from the improvement ana popu-
ation OF the kingdom, events min
itely more advantageous TO the
crown than the rents of the best
landed estates which it can hold. l
would throw them into the mass of
private property by which they Will come
through the course OF circula-
ton, and through the political
secretions Of the state, into !well
regulated revenue The history of the
landed system CT the United States fur
nishes the most convincing proof OF the
value Of this policy"
You affirmed your faith in this policy
by the following in your message to the
Legislature: "Tne declaration of
principles and policies sanctioned by the
people at the recent election, demands OF
those charged with the making and the
execution of the laws, inst these lands be
sold to actual settlers" The people at
orce recognized in you leader worth y
OF their love and confidence. The evidence
Of your convictions was too con-
vincing to be doubted, aEd they We're
ready to follow wherever you dared to
lead. The peoples representatives in
the Legislature saw the wisdom Of your
suggestions and enacted law intended
to carry out your proposed policy. a
maiorIty Of the members of that DO y
when the bill came up accepted enc
heartily supported it upon being Informed
that your excellency favored the meas
ure, and your prompt approval Of the &c
abundantly satisfied US thst you &C.
copied it as the proper law. As soon a:
the public was Informed of these things G
peaceful calmness st once pervaded the
country, every one believing that gooC